SPEED BAN LET-OFFS ‘A DISGRACE’

Offenders can keep driving

THOUSANDS of speeding drivers are still on the roads despite racking up dozens of penalty points.

Figures reveal one motorist caught 19 times has still not been banned even though he has 60 points.

A further two drivers with 48 points have been allowed to keep their licences.

Across the country, 66 drivers have 21 points, while there are

337 with 18 points.

There are 1,138 motorists with 15 points and 7,377 who have amassed 12 points.

Yet none of them has been banned after successfully arguing to keep their licences in court.

Magistrates can use their discretion to allow offenders to stay on the road if they think they would suffer “exceptional hardship”.

Speeding campaign group Brake said: “It is disgraceful that so many drivers are still on our roads, despite having accumulated 12 points or more on their licence. “The Government and courts are complicit in dangerous drivers remaining on our roads through continuing to permit the exploitation of loopholes in our road traffic laws. “Driving is a privilege, not a right.”

Brake is now demanding an urgent review.

John Bache of the Magistrates’ Association said: “The process for establishing exceptional hardship is robust – magistrates scrutinise every case very carefully.”